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Whoops, hit the ground with this one after Mac opened the new thread:
Gads, the woe is me is rampant here. Gotta buck up, campers.
Go Braves!!
September 26th, 2011 at 1:13 pmCan’t believe I never noticed before that ‘fired’ is an anagram of ‘Fredi’. It’s even more perfect than Resop’s name being ‘poser’ when spelled out backwards.
September 26th, 2011 at 1:25 pmThe failings of the Wild Card are clearly illustrated by the fact that, when competing for a playoff spot at the end of the season, the Braves play a team from their division with the best record in all of baseball, while the Cardinals play a team from their division with the worst record in all of baseball.
September 26th, 2011 at 1:47 pmBut, hey, we get to root for Wandy Rodriguez…
September 26th, 2011 at 2:00 pmAlso an anagram for Fredi: “I… derf.” Imagine this as a response during one of his postgame press conferences. For instance:
“Fredi, why did you call for a suicide squeeze with a newly paraplegic Chipper running [crawling] at third and Tommy Hanson attempting to bunt without an actual bat in his hands and his right arm in a sling?”
“Well, see, um, I… derf.”
Of course no one would ever actually ask him why he called for that play, so this might be a bit unrealistic. Go Braves!
September 26th, 2011 at 2:13 pmBraves lineup Bourn 8 Prado 7 Chipper 5 Uggla 4 Freeman 3 McCann 2 Diaz 9 Gonzalez 6 Delgado 1
September 26th, 2011 at 2:14 pmHeyward is out once again, presumably because we’re facing a lefty
September 26th, 2011 at 2:15 pmIt looks like there might be some rain for the game. Wonder if the Phillies will sit Utley, Howard and Ibanez?
September 26th, 2011 at 2:16 pmEh…it’s just a 30 percent chance. I don’t think it’ll play that big of a factor. If we get a shower, the field shouldn’t be soaked or anything.
September 26th, 2011 at 2:21 pmHopefully “fired” (past tense) will be the way in which Fredi is referred to by the start of the GM meetings in November.
September 26th, 2011 at 2:32 pmAm I the only one who thinks that Brad Pitt kinda looks like Chipper on the cover of SI?
Not going to watch the game tonight, so maybe they win this one. But I doubt it. Let’s hope for “Success” and the Astros putting up a fight.
September 26th, 2011 at 2:36 pmSuccess had an .810OPS in Houston during August. He’s back down to his normal .531 range in September though.
September 26th, 2011 at 2:44 pm#7
September 26th, 2011 at 2:50 pmIt’s not just any lefty.
I don’t understand why Prado keeps hitting at the top of the lineup. He’s pretty awful.
September 26th, 2011 at 2:54 pmMaybe A-Gon will continue his hot hitting and carry the team to the postseason.
I…derf.
September 26th, 2011 at 3:01 pm@14
Im not sure there is anyone else to put there right now.
September 26th, 2011 at 3:03 pm@16
I’d give Diaz a shot tonight and then Heyward after that. It worked fairly well last year…
September 26th, 2011 at 3:05 pm16—Literally anyone else, AGony included.
September 26th, 2011 at 3:06 pmBraves OPS for month of Sept
AAG 1019
Richardson 1000 (4 ABs)
Chipper 817
Ross 779
Uggla 773
HEYWARD 764
Freeman 730
Bourn 669
McCann 631
PRADO 575
Wilson 522
DIAZ 499
Constanza 400
Hinske 393
Conrad 384
Won’t win many that way.
September 26th, 2011 at 3:14 pmAnyone know why Aroys hasn’t been used since the 16th?
September 26th, 2011 at 3:18 pmSorry for the triple post but this should cheer everyone up:
Phillies lineup: 1. Rollins SS 2. Utley 2B 3. Pence RF 4. Howard 1B 5. Victorino CF 6. Ibanez LF 7. Polanco 3B 8. Ruiz C 9 Lee P.
September 26th, 2011 at 3:19 pm4-8 Is Murder’s Row
September 26th, 2011 at 3:26 pmPhillies are going with their A-team. Maybe they want to participate in a third collapse in five seasons (2007, 2008, 2011?).
September 26th, 2011 at 3:29 pmReally, Phillies?
Fine.
But ya know, if we do win tonight against their A+ team, it should get the Braves over the hump psychologically.
September 26th, 2011 at 3:30 pmWhether they’re playing Jimmy Rollins at short or the dug-up corpse of Granny Hamner, we gotta find a way to win this game.
September 26th, 2011 at 4:04 pmAccording to DOB, Hanson didn’t make his Sunday throwing session. He won’t be a factor at all during this series.
Why would anyone expect the Phillies to put up any lineup other than their best? They’ve been in a tailspin and need to prove something going into the playoffs, too.
September 26th, 2011 at 4:06 pmAs pathetically as they’ve played against pathetic teams, maybe an actual perceived challenge will be good for them. Like, maybe they’ll step up to the challenge or something. Ha. I mean, Go Braves!
September 26th, 2011 at 4:10 pmSo will the challenge of the Phillies be the next jolt this team needs? I believe that will be jolt number 10 for the month.
I’m optimistic. Always am. We’ll take 2 of 3 against the Phils. The loss will be Lowe’s start. Lowe’s loss and Delgado’s dominance in his game will convince the Braves to go with a Lowe-less rotation for the playoffs, and the young guns of Minor, Beachy, and Delgado will carve their names in Atlanta Braves history as they all dominate on their way to a World Series championship.
Yep, that is what’s going to happen. Totally.
September 26th, 2011 at 4:21 pmRepeating a prediction from a prior thread: I think we’re going to take 1 out of 3 from the Phillies, and the Cards will take 2 out of 3 from the Astros. And we’ll lose the playoff game against the Cardinals.
September 26th, 2011 at 4:23 pmI like that lineup from the Phillies, Manuel is awesome. Make ‘em win their way in is the right philosophy.
September 26th, 2011 at 4:35 pmThe Phillies should put their best players on the field. Just as the Astros should put their best on the field. I just wish the Braves would put the best players on the field (Heyward)
September 26th, 2011 at 4:43 pmOh crap, Braves are activating Sherrill and might use him tonight, according to DOB. This has rusty disaster written all over it. I predict he grooves a fastball to Howard that ends up in midtown.
September 26th, 2011 at 4:55 pmI would agree, except I think that if you’re left-handed, you could probably strike Ryan Howard out, and I don’t know if you’ve ever played baseball in your life.
September 26th, 2011 at 5:08 pmUnlike others here, I just can’t generate any excitement for these sad sacks, even though I can’t look away. To quote Bob Weiss of the Hawks, “We’re going to be exciting. Of course, it was exciting when the Titanic went down.”
GO ASTROS! Please?
September 26th, 2011 at 5:08 pmEvery time the Braves were in Philly’s position (usually against the Mets at the end of the season) they played their A-team. I see no reason Philly shouldn’t do the same.
September 26th, 2011 at 5:14 pm32: Yeah, if we see a repeat of “Rusty” Linebrink with Sherrill, I am seriously going to grab Emma and start a picket line around Turner Field.
The guy definitely needs some work, but it better damn well be limited to low-leverage moments in the game. Up a bunch or down a bunch…although if we’re down a bunch it hardly seems worth the effort.
September 26th, 2011 at 5:16 pm“Unlike others here, I just can’t generate any excitement for these sad sacks”
On the other hand: the team has a one game lead with three to play, and thus is playing very meaningful baseball in the last series of the regular season. A lot of team’s fans would trade places.
September 26th, 2011 at 6:05 pmSo far, so good.
September 26th, 2011 at 6:15 pm@25
Thank goodness for Google when Ububba makes mildly esoteric historical references:
“Granny Hamner Is Found Dead
September 13, 1993| Associated PressGranville Wilbur (Granny) Hamner, who joined the major leagues at age 17 and played shortstop for the Philadelphia Phillies during the 1940s and 1950s, was found dead in his Philadelphia hotel room. He was 66. Preliminary reports said that Hamner, of Paulsboro, N.J., suffered a heart attack. He was attending a sports memorabilia and card show in Philadelphia.
Hamner, a 17-year veteran, was an All-Star from 1952-54. He was the starting shortstop in 1952 and starting second baseman in 1954, becoming the first player in All-Star history to win starting berths at two positions. He was traded to Cleveland in 1959 and retired in 1962.
Rumors he will be dug up sometime in the future to play shortstop in an attempt to unnerve the opposition appear without merit. Possible sources are being investigated.”
September 26th, 2011 at 6:18 pmCHIPPER!!!!!
September 26th, 2011 at 6:20 pmLarry!
September 26th, 2011 at 6:20 pmNice. Delgado, it’s all you, kid.
September 26th, 2011 at 6:21 pmI don’t know who else watches via GameDay, but MLB is stuffing more and more commercials onto the service, so that viewers cannot follow the game. The whole bottom of the 1st passed while I saw nothing but commercials!
Until CHIPPER!
September 26th, 2011 at 6:21 pmCHIPPAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAa
September 26th, 2011 at 6:21 pmThere’s your run, R-Del. Go get ‘em, kid.
September 26th, 2011 at 6:21 pmAttaboy, Chipper. Lead the way.
September 26th, 2011 at 6:21 pmHmmmmm….
September 26th, 2011 at 6:22 pmI think there’s a problem with the scoreboard, because my TV shows that the Braves are up 1-0.
September 26th, 2011 at 6:23 pmHopefully the early run will psych the Cardinals out during warm-ups.
September 26th, 2011 at 6:24 pmStupid shift.
Why play to pull with the shift and then pitch away the entire at-bat?
September 26th, 2011 at 6:28 pmI hate the shift
September 26th, 2011 at 6:29 pmRead on Twitter that Lee is on a 75 pitch count
September 26th, 2011 at 6:33 pmI like this Randall Delgado kid. I think we should trade him for Andrew McCutchen.
September 26th, 2011 at 6:35 pmI think Utley could have headed down to Zesto on Ponce and gotten a soft-serve and still thrown out McCann.
September 26th, 2011 at 6:37 pmBrian McCann is seriously one of the slowest human beings.
EDIT: WRT footspeed, not intelligence
September 26th, 2011 at 6:37 pmThe last Pirates center fielder the Braves traded for (who has seemingly fallen off the face of the Earth) left a bad taste.
September 26th, 2011 at 6:37 pmThat works. Nice hustle, Matty.
September 26th, 2011 at 6:38 pmThe power and the speed of the Diaz!!!
September 26th, 2011 at 6:38 pmThat was Diaz’ first extra-base hit as a Brave in 2011.
September 26th, 2011 at 6:38 pmYeah, AAG… our September slugger.
September 26th, 2011 at 6:39 pmA HIT WITH A RUNNER IN SCORING POSITION!
September 26th, 2011 at 6:39 pmA HIT WITH A RUNNER IN SCORING POSITION!
DEAR GOD A HIT WITH A RUNNER IN SCORING POSITION!
AAG rides again. I’ve almost gotten past the cognitive dissonance.
September 26th, 2011 at 6:40 pmDoes. Not. Compute.
September 26th, 2011 at 6:40 pmWow, what a terrible 0-2 pitch to AAG.
September 26th, 2011 at 6:40 pmDid that just happen?
September 26th, 2011 at 6:40 pmJack Wilson wouldn’t have hit for extra bases. I’m so torn between them.
September 26th, 2011 at 6:40 pmHow long do you think it would take for Brian McCann to make it around the bases for an inside-the-park homer? Does anyone honestly think he would break the 45-second mark?
EDIT: Maybe the trick is to make sure AAG is playing with a strained calf.
September 26th, 2011 at 6:40 pmFor the record I want to compliment Fredi for not having R-Del bunt here.
UPDATE: And see? Something good happened. A very close play at first, could have been a hit or a rushed play error, but at the very least one of those mythical “productive outs.” The bunt is overrated.
September 26th, 2011 at 6:41 pmThen you have to retract it for having Bourn bunt.
September 26th, 2011 at 6:43 pmPlays like that with Delgado make me think about the DH a little more. The last thing this team needs is another injury.
September 26th, 2011 at 6:43 pmA bunt single with 2 outs & a runner on third is fine.
September 26th, 2011 at 6:43 pm67: For B-Mac to get an inside-the-parker, I think it would to be in Minute Maid, hit to deep center field, roll up that stupid hill and all the way up that flag pole, where it would miraculously come to rest on the top of the staff. Oh, and the flagpole would need to be greased so the centerfielder wouldn’t be able to shimmy up there without the grounds crew coming on the field and cleaning it off.
And even then it would be close.
September 26th, 2011 at 6:46 pm69: Bunting for a hit is a different animal than the sacrifice bunt.
70: Bah! These guys are supposed to be athletes. If a guy is so dainty his career is ruined while running to first, I don’t want him.
September 26th, 2011 at 6:47 pm37 pitches by Lee, so he’s halfway to his pitch count.
September 26th, 2011 at 6:48 pmWhen was the last time we scored twice in one game? I feel like I’m rooting for the Yankees over here.
September 26th, 2011 at 6:50 pmWeird. Nine pitches in the inning, seven of them to the opposing pitcher.
September 26th, 2011 at 6:51 pmAnd our starter is through 3 with a relatively modest 37 pitches. WTF??
September 26th, 2011 at 6:51 pmDon’t get too crazy guys……long way to go….
September 26th, 2011 at 6:52 pm@73: I wouldn’t say ruined career, but severely injured, requiring surgery, and out for at least one season. It happens way too often, even to the toughest of players who play everyday. I wonder what the poll results would look like if NL managers were asked about adding the DH.
September 26th, 2011 at 7:01 pmWow, I tuned in expecting to see Cliff Lee beginning his 1,000 year dark reign, glad to see we’ve staved off that horror for now.
September 26th, 2011 at 7:04 pm“Sometimes you got to tip your cap to the rule change.”
Maybe that’s just what our manager would say.
September 26th, 2011 at 7:05 pmOh jeez….
September 26th, 2011 at 7:09 pmC’mon, Randall…
September 26th, 2011 at 7:12 pmI bring in Kimbrel right here. These are playoff games.
September 26th, 2011 at 7:16 pmIf rusty linestink enters this game in the 4th inning I will combust.
September 26th, 2011 at 7:17 pmI just inhaled. I kind of forgot what that was like.
September 26th, 2011 at 7:19 pmNice recovery.
September 26th, 2011 at 7:20 pmWhew…..we need about 5/6 more runs before I’ll relax a little.
September 26th, 2011 at 7:20 pmCoulda been way worse.
September 26th, 2011 at 7:20 pmGeez, tense game. At least Linebrinkian disaster has been staved off for one more inning.
September 26th, 2011 at 7:21 pm@84
I sincerely doubt that’s the only situation like that we’ll face in this game.
September 26th, 2011 at 7:24 pmOh Chip, talking fielding %’s
September 26th, 2011 at 7:25 pmTwo words I hate hearing…”Good cut” or “Good swing”
September 26th, 2011 at 7:27 pmWandy just got out of a pickle. Go ‘Stros.
September 26th, 2011 at 7:31 pmLee’s at 70 pitches & due to lead off the 5th.
September 26th, 2011 at 7:33 pmHeck of a catch by Polanco there.
September 26th, 2011 at 7:33 pmBest thing Prado has done all month.
September 26th, 2011 at 7:35 pmUgh
September 26th, 2011 at 7:35 pmLee batted for himself. This never works out when we do it (squeezing one more inning out of the starter), but then again Fredlot’s the one deciding when we do it.
September 26th, 2011 at 7:35 pmDamn. Warm up the ‘pen, Delgado’s about done.
September 26th, 2011 at 7:36 pmR-Del needs to brush one of these guys back. They’re all on top of the plate.
September 26th, 2011 at 7:37 pmMan, its strange having confidence in AAG doing something good.
edit: then he k’s looking
September 26th, 2011 at 7:42 pmHibernation Mode. Can’t say it surprises me, just depresses me.
Edit: And Holliday singles in a run, 1-0 Cards.
September 26th, 2011 at 7:45 pmFrediot needs to go to O’Ventbrel now. But he won’t.
September 26th, 2011 at 7:45 pmC’mon Lisp. Be good.
September 26th, 2011 at 7:47 pmIt’s the Lisp.
September 26th, 2011 at 7:47 pmThis is going to be a morning recap. A bad one, I fear.
September 26th, 2011 at 7:47 pmOh for the love of FSG, I hate Shane Victorino…
September 26th, 2011 at 7:50 pmI hate Victorino. And Heyward throws him out.
September 26th, 2011 at 7:51 pmWhy didn’t he bring in EOF to start the frigging inning?
September 26th, 2011 at 7:52 pmHmm. I’ve been thinking, guys – maybe it’s just not our year? I’ve divined a few subtle signs pointing in that direction.
September 26th, 2011 at 7:52 pmO’ is in.
Ugh.
September 26th, 2011 at 7:53 pmLet’s see, I get back from a meeting, turn on the game just in time to see Rollins homer. I won’t be watching any more of the game.
September 26th, 2011 at 7:54 pmThis is depressing. Even EOF can’t save this game.
September 26th, 2011 at 7:54 pmand there’s your ballgame
September 26th, 2011 at 7:54 pm‘Stros are in good shape this inning. At least there’s that.
September 26th, 2011 at 7:55 pmWandy Rodriguez squeezes in a run. 1-1.
September 26th, 2011 at 7:55 pmI just feel like the Braves have somehow literally been prohibited, or have forgotten, or I don’t even know what–somehow they’re incapable of coming back from any deficit. So it feels like Victorino out at third is the game-deciding run.
September 26th, 2011 at 7:55 pmAstros tie on a Wandy sac bunt. Must have been a safety squeeze.
September 26th, 2011 at 7:55 pmover/under on braves baserunners the last 4 innings – Ill set it at 3 and take the under
September 26th, 2011 at 7:55 pmTie game in Gasland!
September 26th, 2011 at 7:55 pmBourgeois doubles in Towles. 2-1 Houston.
September 26th, 2011 at 7:56 pmAstros 2, Cards 1
September 26th, 2011 at 7:56 pmLast time we won was Friday, which was also the last time I got drunk. I’m heading to the liquor store.
September 26th, 2011 at 7:56 pmI don’t have a problem with the bullpen usage–if anything I probably would have stuck with Lisp once I turned to him in the inning, but at least Fredi has demonstrated some understanding of leverage.
September 26th, 2011 at 7:57 pmSo that, as they say, is that. And I’ve learned not to trust scrub teams to hold off the Cardinals. Therefore that, as they say, is tied with two left to play.
Can the Braves force a one-game playoff, or will they simply end the season two games back?
September 26th, 2011 at 7:58 pmI wouldve handed the ball to Lisp. He’s been pitching well. This offense sucks.
September 26th, 2011 at 7:59 pmnice play old man
September 26th, 2011 at 7:59 pmFreddie must do yoga. That guy can do a split with the best of ‘em.
September 26th, 2011 at 8:01 pmSo much for the pitch count.
September 26th, 2011 at 8:03 pmRemember when all we had to worry about was Constanza playing well?
September 26th, 2011 at 8:03 pmRead on Twitter that Lee is on a 75 pitch count
Twitter lies!!!!
Okay, Chipper. Dial up another solo homer.
September 26th, 2011 at 8:03 pm“Read on Twitter that Lee is on a 75 pitch count”
Never believe Twitter.
September 26th, 2011 at 8:03 pmThere ya go, Chipper!
September 26th, 2011 at 8:05 pmHack, hack, hack, Martin. Few things are as gross as a Prado PA.
September 26th, 2011 at 8:06 pmChipper moves past Ted Williams, ties Dave Parker for 36th all time doubles with 526.
September 26th, 2011 at 8:06 pmI just saw a chick on TV with a Boyer jersey. WTF?
September 26th, 2011 at 8:06 pmCan the Braves please flip Prado and Gonzalez in the order? What happened to the “hot hand” theory espoused by the manager?
September 26th, 2011 at 8:06 pmThe unplayable Martin Prado strikes out swinging. The little chyron next to the score tells me to go buy Braves NLDS tickets. Just one of life’s excruciating little jokes!
September 26th, 2011 at 8:08 pmRyan “The Riot” Theriot hit into a DP to end the Cards 4th. Still 2-1 ‘Stros.
September 26th, 2011 at 8:08 pm@135 Perhaps it’s perverse, but I feel relieved that there’s somebody else on this board as frustrated with Martin Prado as I have been.
Also, Dan Uggla has re-joined the ranks of the wretched.
September 26th, 2011 at 8:09 pmYou’re our only hope, Wandy. Complete game plz.
September 26th, 2011 at 8:10 pmFire Parrish.
September 26th, 2011 at 8:10 pmChipper could’ve died of old age on second base waiting for a hit there.
September 26th, 2011 at 8:10 pmI just saw a chick on TV with a Boyer jersey. WTF?
If the Braves can have Star Wars day, they oughta have “Obscure And/Or Non-Star Braves Player Jersey” day. I’d proudly wear my Rick Mahler jersey.
September 26th, 2011 at 8:11 pmThe other hope is Jaime Garcia. He’s been up and down all year, and is due for a collapse.
Right on cue: he gives up a two-run shot.
September 26th, 2011 at 8:11 pmAnd Chipper is hobbling. Wunnerful wunnerful…
Can’t believe Rollins isn’t laying a bunt down the third base line.
September 26th, 2011 at 8:11 pm2-run homer by Matt Downs (who?), 4-1 Astros.
September 26th, 2011 at 8:12 pmChipper cant move.
September 26th, 2011 at 8:12 pm145- Not fair to Rick, who was the second-best player we had in the dark days of the late ’80s.
September 26th, 2011 at 8:12 pmCamera showed Fredi being advised by Snitker in the dugout. That’s about right.
September 26th, 2011 at 8:13 pmSo, what else can go wrong for the Braves?
September 26th, 2011 at 8:13 pmPrado is beyond frustrating to watch. He and Bmac both right now.
September 26th, 2011 at 8:13 pmSo, do we think this “no coming back from any deficit” thing is a league rule, or a directive from Liberty Media, or a strategic concept that Fredi is pioneering, or what?
September 26th, 2011 at 8:14 pm4-1 Astros.
(Yay rooting for the worst team in the majors, because you know the Braves aren’t coming back in a million years.)
September 26th, 2011 at 8:14 pm150: But Rick is most definitely a non-star. And my favorite Brave of all time.
September 26th, 2011 at 8:14 pmAnon, I think its more of a Larry Parrish philosophy
September 26th, 2011 at 8:15 pm151: I didn’t see mouths moving, though. Must have been mental telepathy.
September 26th, 2011 at 8:16 pmEOF is EOAwesome
September 26th, 2011 at 8:16 pmI don’t begrudge the Phillies for starting all of their guys, but considering the fact that so many of them are banged up, it would be hilarious if one of their key guys got hurt in this–for them anyway–meaningless game.
September 26th, 2011 at 8:17 pmFlaherty’s ERA just ticked below 1.00. There’s something, I guess.
September 26th, 2011 at 8:17 pmThis is the most pathetic damn thing I’ve ever witnessed. The worst team in baseball, a team something like 18 games under .500 at home, is doing more to help the braves make the playoffs than they are themselves. Revolting.
September 26th, 2011 at 8:17 pmApparently EOF currently has the lowest ERA of all time for a pitcher who appeared in at least 75 games.
September 26th, 2011 at 8:18 pm162: One of the most pathetic scenarios nobody’s yet mentioned is the Braves losing all three to the Phillies while the Cards get swept by the Astros. The Braves make the playoffs under possibly the most embarrassing methods ever.
163: That’s not an insignificant feat!
September 26th, 2011 at 8:21 pmHopefully Savery is savory for the Braves’ offense.
September 26th, 2011 at 8:21 pmJoe: Extremely clueless. Has no idea about Savery’s history.
September 26th, 2011 at 8:21 pmRandom reliever who is apparently a former position player.
Run(s) please.
September 26th, 2011 at 8:22 pm164: You’d have to assume that would be even more embarrassing for the Cardinals, though. In which case, I’ll take it!
September 26th, 2011 at 8:23 pmMcCann is a mess.
September 26th, 2011 at 8:23 pm167—No, he’s a former pitcher who failed so miserably that they tried to Ankiel him. (He was great at both hitting and pitching in college.) Then, they let him pitch again, and he did alright.
September 26th, 2011 at 8:23 pmIn other news, Josh Beckett just gave up a 3-run inside-the-park home run. Saux down 6-2, Rays up 4-2.
September 26th, 2011 at 8:25 pmSo, time to get some mileage out of this whole team name/mascot thing, huh? Since the players clearly aren’t going to get it done, how about Chase Utley goes to field that pathetic slow roller off the bat of McCann…and suddenly, a tomahawk sprouts from his forehead?
I’m not saying I want the Braves to reach the playoffs through brutal violence. I’m just saying, if it’s between Chase Utley’s life and the Braves making the playoffs…
September 26th, 2011 at 8:26 pmWhy is Heyward not batting right now?
September 26th, 2011 at 8:26 pmSo, why don’t we hit Heyward here?
September 26th, 2011 at 8:26 pm@164 – That would be truly sad. I would at least consider pulling for our first round opponent in that case.
September 26th, 2011 at 8:26 pmWhere’s Heyward‽ Even Simpson is asking.
September 26th, 2011 at 8:26 pmBases loaded no outs for STL. Crud.
September 26th, 2011 at 8:27 pmCards have bases loaded no outs
September 26th, 2011 at 8:28 pmIn a weird way, I’ve recently started to feel sorry for Fredi lately; much of what is going on is not actually his fault. But then he does this. Screw you, Frediot, you joke.
September 26th, 2011 at 8:28 pmCards have bases loaded no outs
No worries. It’s only Freese, Pujols, Holliday, and Berkman coming up.
September 26th, 2011 at 8:29 pmStu, Savery wasn’t that bad. Ss John Sickels recounted:
September 26th, 2011 at 8:29 pmRBIRun-scoring double-play groundout, now it’s 4-2 Stros.The exact kind of line drive that Matt Diaz would allow to drop in front of him for a base hit. And did, in the top of the inning.
Oh well. I’m sure glad we kept his bat in the lineup and his glove in the field!
September 26th, 2011 at 8:29 pmFreese brings home a run… by grounding into a DP. 4-2 Astros.
September 26th, 2011 at 8:30 pmFreese grounded into DP, 4-2 2outs
September 26th, 2011 at 8:30 pm1 run, 2 outs. I’ll take it. Go Wandy.
September 26th, 2011 at 8:30 pm172: As ambivalent as I am now about my favorite team making the playoffs, I still would take it if it meant the horrific on field murder of Chase Utley. What does that say about me?
September 26th, 2011 at 8:31 pmPujols strikes out to end the threat. Still 4-2. Wandy’s at 87 pitches, probably only one more inning.
John, it means you give Philly the respect it deserves.
September 26th, 2011 at 8:31 pmWandy pwnd Pujols. Three pitch strikeout.
September 26th, 2011 at 8:31 pmPoo holes struck out!!!
September 26th, 2011 at 8:31 pm181—Uh, that’s pretty bad, man. I’ve followed Savery’s career pretty closely.
September 26th, 2011 at 8:32 pmmeanwhile, Detroit has scored 14 runs tonight. What I wouldnt give for 14 in this series much less one game.
September 26th, 2011 at 8:33 pmGood grief. That was horrible defense.
Edit: Wandy Rodriguez just doubled. He seems to the only one interested in getting the Braves to the postseason.
September 26th, 2011 at 8:35 pmOne run. Six outs. The question on every Braves player’s mind: “I wonder how Pebble Beach is this time of year?”
September 26th, 2011 at 8:36 pmFurcal hurt his leg and left the game in Houston.
September 26th, 2011 at 8:37 pmUgh. I hate Ibanez. Venters was looking pretty good this inning… and that “double” really should have been caught by Chipper, who is not at all right.
September 26th, 2011 at 8:39 pmIf they don’t do it in the bottom of the 8th, it isn’t going to happen. Oh, did I mention I hate Victorino?
September 26th, 2011 at 8:39 pmDont worry Johnny, they werent coming back either way.
September 26th, 2011 at 8:39 pmIs it me, or has the Braves infield defense actually gotten worse over the course of the season? I feel like the enduring image from this season, other than any number of hitters popping the ball up, is the sight of Dan Uggla more than 20 feet away from a seemingly-routine ground ball.
September 26th, 2011 at 8:39 pmThis is so depressing.
September 26th, 2011 at 8:40 pm198—…but fully laid out, diving for it, anyway.
September 26th, 2011 at 8:40 pmHow is that ironic, Chip?
(Hint: It’s not.)
September 26th, 2011 at 8:41 pm201- Like a black fly in your chardonnay, I’m guessing?
Still 4-2 Houston after 5.
September 26th, 2011 at 8:44 pmThat was a lethal pitch by Lidge. Gotta tip your cap…
September 26th, 2011 at 8:44 pmand that looked like a ball
September 26th, 2011 at 8:44 pmWandy Rodriguez is currently the only MLB player interested in getting the Atlanta Braves into the 2011 playoffs, it seems.
September 26th, 2011 at 8:44 pmA WALK!
News at 11.
September 26th, 2011 at 8:46 pmOkay, Prado. Do not hit into a double play plz.
September 26th, 2011 at 8:46 pm0 for his last 15. 0-6 in his career against Lidge. Prado!
September 26th, 2011 at 8:46 pmOh goody: Prado. Try to contain your excitement.
Edit: Prado singled. Come on, Chipper.
September 26th, 2011 at 8:47 pmI hope Chipper can hit the ball.
Double steal?
September 26th, 2011 at 8:48 pmC’mon Chipper. One time.
September 26th, 2011 at 8:48 pmTime to bunt, IMO.
September 26th, 2011 at 8:48 pmLame.
Should have bunted.
September 26th, 2011 at 8:50 pmWell, poop.
September 26th, 2011 at 8:50 pmTypical.
September 26th, 2011 at 8:50 pmOf course. Someone had to ground into a DP.
Cards go down 1-2-3 in the top of the 6th.
September 26th, 2011 at 8:50 pmChipper is, after all, on the Braves.
September 26th, 2011 at 8:51 pmDamn
September 26th, 2011 at 8:52 pmIf the Braves get a base runner in the bottom of the ninth, will Fredi let Heyward hit?
September 26th, 2011 at 8:57 pmWith all the runs we’ve scored tonight, it’s easy to forget we’ve only had 7 baserunners.
September 26th, 2011 at 8:58 pmThis bites.
September 26th, 2011 at 8:58 pm“This bites.”
Hey, save that for when you see tomorrow’s game.
September 26th, 2011 at 8:59 pmI’m paying more attention to the ‘Stros battle on my laptop than the lost cause on the TV.
September 26th, 2011 at 8:59 pmSo, if we win and come back off of Madson, I’ll lose the lead in the finals of our Braves Journal league. Screw it…Let’s go Braves!
September 26th, 2011 at 8:59 pmI post that as Uggla hits a double. I’ll try it again in a second.
September 26th, 2011 at 9:00 pmWow, Ibanez is so bad. If the Phillies don’t win the pennant, he’s going to play a part in their losing.
September 26th, 2011 at 9:00 pmHeyward should hit for Bmac. At least according to the numbers vs Madson.
September 26th, 2011 at 9:00 pmI’m paying more attention to the ‘Stros battle on my laptop than the lost cause on the TV.
September 26th, 2011 at 9:00 pmMust we swing at every single first pitch?
September 26th, 2011 at 9:01 pmCards are rallying. Come on, Braves. Do something.
September 26th, 2011 at 9:01 pmTwo on, nobody out for the Cards, as Wandy is being removed. I’ll be pretty surprised if the Astros win that game.
September 26th, 2011 at 9:02 pmWandy’s still pitching. I believe in you, Wandy!
September 26th, 2011 at 9:02 pmNo! My delay is longer than yours. Farewell, Wandy. Thanks for everything.
September 26th, 2011 at 9:03 pmCards have runners on 2nd and 3rd, 1 out, top 7th, Wandy’s gone, Wilton Lopez in.
September 26th, 2011 at 9:03 pmwere any of the last 3 pitches to Freeman going to be strikes? I hate this team and their refusal to take walks.
September 26th, 2011 at 9:04 pmCB Bucknor might be more incompetent than Chip.
September 26th, 2011 at 9:04 pmCB Bucknor is just awesomely bad.
September 26th, 2011 at 9:05 pmWandy, Wilton. Wilton, Wandy. [/Letterman]
September 26th, 2011 at 9:05 pmI do not know you, Wilton Lopez, but your numbers are good. Good luck.
September 26th, 2011 at 9:05 pmAnother swing and miss at a ball at the letters… “Nike.”
September 26th, 2011 at 9:06 pmMcCann with yet another anemic AB. Pathetic.
September 26th, 2011 at 9:06 pmMcCann just looks like he has no interest in being out there. He’s done for the season, I fear, much like the Braves.
September 26th, 2011 at 9:06 pmThanks Freddie and McCann.
September 26th, 2011 at 9:06 pmAnd that’s it. Now, will Wilton save our bacon?
September 26th, 2011 at 9:07 pmPitiful.
September 26th, 2011 at 9:07 pmlol, this team sucks so bad.
September 26th, 2011 at 9:07 pm@244 Braves don’t deserve it, but I guess I’m rooting for the Astros anyway.
September 26th, 2011 at 9:07 pmCongratulations, Phillies! After facing the likes of the Mets and Nationals, you snapped an eight-game losing streak and won your 100th game!
Soooo embarrassing. Go ‘Stros.
Just got a text from a friend: “Magic number is now three!”
September 26th, 2011 at 9:08 pm248- They snapped it yesterday, John.
September 26th, 2011 at 9:09 pmThis is quite cruel, to have two years in a row with 5 months of good baseball just to have it fizzle at the end.
Karma balance in store?
September 26th, 2011 at 9:09 pmYeah, Lopez!
September 26th, 2011 at 9:09 pm250- No, just management and players that collectively stop giving a damn on Labor Day.
September 26th, 2011 at 9:10 pmOnce the pressure is on, they are all choking. That’s a great characteristic to have.
September 26th, 2011 at 9:10 pmgotta give the ball to Huddy tomorrow
September 26th, 2011 at 9:10 pmHow many pitches do the Braves swing at outside of the zone with runners in scoring position? Its like they all turn into Jeff Francoeur when someone reaches. Of course it takes a hit because they hate walking.
September 26th, 2011 at 9:11 pm249: Oops!
250: Last year was a genuine case for injuries. And we played damn hard in the NLDS. Gotta be proud of last season. This year? It’s just head-shakin’ sadness all around…
September 26th, 2011 at 9:12 pm“This is quite cruel, to have two years in a row with 5 months of good baseball just to have it fizzle at the end. Karma balance in store?”
Punishment for laughing at the Mets in 2007-2008.
September 26th, 2011 at 9:12 pmThank you, Wilton!
September 26th, 2011 at 9:13 pmNice job Wilton
September 26th, 2011 at 9:13 pmYeah, Lopez! Runners at 2nd and 3rd w/one out = NO RUNS.
September 26th, 2011 at 9:13 pmI’m trying to stay positive but I’m running out of reasons too. I hate that we’re scoreboard watching when this was our Wild Card three weeks ago. This sucks.
September 26th, 2011 at 9:13 pmI was so scarred by the Braves of the 70′s and 80′s I’m just glad to still be playing meaningful games! Call me old I guess!
September 26th, 2011 at 9:14 pmScoreboard watching the Astros. It’d be funny if it weren’t so sad.
September 26th, 2011 at 9:14 pmElsewhere in Collapses for the Ages, the Rays lead the Yankees 5-2, and bring in Kyle Farnsworth to get the final out (their entry in the Battle of Godawful Ex-Braves). They’re now 1 game behind the Red Sox, now losing 6-2 after eight.
September 26th, 2011 at 9:16 pmany projection as to who the starting pitchers would be in a one game playoff?
September 26th, 2011 at 9:18 pmMcCann is done. He’s either checked out mentally or injured. Either way, he needs to sit.
September 26th, 2011 at 9:18 pm#265 – its Beachy if Lowe and Huddy pitch the next two.
September 26th, 2011 at 9:19 pmAnd Farnworth gets Montero to ground out to short to end it. The Red Sox lead is half a game.
(I work with a Sox fan, and misery loves company.)
September 26th, 2011 at 9:20 pmThese players for the Astros feel like third grade vocab. “Shuck”, “Bourgeois”, “Downs”
September 26th, 2011 at 9:21 pm257- Yea I’m really not looking forward to what my two Mets fans friends are going to say to me if the Braves lose it.
September 26th, 2011 at 9:21 pmAstros radio is pretty entertaining. Some possibly senile old man is wishing listener Pete Schweddy a happy birthday. He seemed quite concerned that he may have mispronounced the last name.
September 26th, 2011 at 9:22 pmI think I was listening to NPR when that guy was a guest. He had some sort of food item.
September 26th, 2011 at 9:23 pm271- I hope listener Pete has a ball.
Red Sox lose 6-3 in Baltimore. AL Wild Card race is tied.
September 26th, 2011 at 9:25 pm270—Discard them and find better friends.
September 26th, 2011 at 9:26 pmAt least the Red Sox collapsed before us.
September 26th, 2011 at 9:26 pmGreat. Two on, none out, Berkman up. Ugh. Why couldn’t that Lopez guy have pitched another inning? He was pretty good.
September 26th, 2011 at 9:27 pm@275
But perhaps not long before, the way Fernando Rodriguez is pitching.
EDIT: Pitching change. Don’t know if it will help, but it’s something.
September 26th, 2011 at 9:28 pmHere come the Cards
September 26th, 2011 at 9:29 pmWesley Wright is the new pitcher.
Love the stat line, anyway: 11.2 IP, *3* H, 1 R/ER, 5 BB, 11 K.
September 26th, 2011 at 9:30 pmI was hoping on the night the Phillies got their 100th win, the Astros would get their 56th. Perhaps it will still come to pass…
September 26th, 2011 at 9:30 pmprediction – STL scores 4 this inning
September 26th, 2011 at 9:30 pmI just can’t tell if we’re small, flightless birds or assorted rodents.
September 26th, 2011 at 9:31 pmDouble steal. Double freaking steal.
September 26th, 2011 at 9:32 pmIf it makes anyone feel better, Philadelphia will probably sweep the Cardinals in the NLDS.
September 26th, 2011 at 9:32 pmDouble steal. Cards have runners 2nd and 3rd.
Edit: And Berkman doubles them both in. 4-4.
September 26th, 2011 at 9:32 pmTied. And if Fredi had called that double steal, somehow it would have ended with two men out.
September 26th, 2011 at 9:32 pmTie ball game.
September 26th, 2011 at 9:32 pmTied game. I’m just so sad.
September 26th, 2011 at 9:33 pmThe Braves deserve this…assholes
September 26th, 2011 at 9:33 pmGosh this sucks. We’ll be tied for the WC by the end of the night. Ick.
September 26th, 2011 at 9:33 pmJust root for the Cardinals. This Braves team deserves nothing but contempt.
September 26th, 2011 at 9:33 pm” … and finally, acceptance.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6mh8SX_sXs
September 26th, 2011 at 9:34 pmIf Ted Turner were a live, this would never happen
September 26th, 2011 at 9:34 pmMy trip to the liquor store didn’t work but I do have a tremendous amount of alcohol to consume over the next two days as we blow this thing.
September 26th, 2011 at 9:35 pmI cannot believe they are going to let Lowe pitch tomorrow. He’s nearly an automatic loss. Should have saved the Lisp today and let him start tomorrow. He’d probably last longer into the game than Lowe. The Braves’ collection of spare relievers could patch together a better game than I think Lowe will.
September 26th, 2011 at 9:36 pmOf course I’m not watching the games anymore, with the Braves torturing their fans with all round ineptitude and managerial incompetence.
I’m sure Fredi will stick with veteran Lowe, and the Braves front office will stick with mentally challenged
manager Fredi.
Hey guys, it’s ok. My fantasy team just picked up a run, rbi, and save at the Braves’ expense. Screw real baseball!
Screw this…
September 26th, 2011 at 9:36 pmIt’s really bad when UGA football is the one team that I pull for that gives me some glimmer of hope. And they’re still not very good.
September 26th, 2011 at 9:37 pmSo Molina walks on four pitches, three of which were strikes
September 26th, 2011 at 9:38 pmMy facebook status:
Stupid Fredi Gonzalez. We all want a new car, a new phone… A team with Fredi Gonzalez only wants one thing… to survive. I know that a lot of you ‘who think they’re too cool’ probably won’t re-post this. But a very little amount of my friends will. Put this on your wall in honor of someone who died from Fredi Gonzalez, survived, or is fighting against this now.
September 26th, 2011 at 9:39 pmMy girlfriend and I are having a great time reading all this humorous “doom and gloom.” Too often “doom and gloom” is not funny at all. Well done, gentleman. Gotta find something to laugh about at this point.
September 26th, 2011 at 9:41 pmI wish it was Thursday. I just want this nightmare to be over.
September 26th, 2011 at 9:42 pm@299. I love that.
September 26th, 2011 at 9:42 pmEnerio del Rosario gets out of the jam, but is this just delaying the inevitable?
September 26th, 2011 at 9:42 pmWith tonight’s loss, the Braves dropped to 9-16 in September. The last time the Braves had a month worse than 9-16 was in August 2008, when that team (which won only 72 games total) went 9-20. On the bright side, there are only 2 games left in the regular season, so the Braves won’t have a chance to match the 20 losses they posted from Aug. 2008.
September 26th, 2011 at 9:43 pmThis Houston game is gut-wrenching. I know it won’t end well, but they keep clinging on with the tips of their fingernails. I can’t believe they recovered from that dropped ball.
September 26th, 2011 at 9:44 pmThe other story tonight is that the White Sox are apparently about to trade Ozzie Guillen to the Marlins at the end of the season.
September 26th, 2011 at 9:45 pm“The other story tonight is that the White Sox are apparently about to trade Ozzie Guillen to the Marlins at the end of the season.”
You can trade managers?! Is any team interested in Fredi?
September 26th, 2011 at 9:48 pm@307
The Montreal Expos
September 26th, 2011 at 9:50 pmOh, look. It’s Jordan Schafer. Save us Jordan Schafer!
September 26th, 2011 at 9:50 pmBack in 2002, Randy Winn was traded for Lou Piniella.
September 26th, 2011 at 9:51 pmYeah, I think the issue is someone has to want him.
The return for Guillen is two minor league players. Nobody has said who yet, that I’ve seen. Also, the trade is apparently going through tonight. This was his last game with the White Sox.
September 26th, 2011 at 9:53 pmChuck Tanner was traded for Manny Sanguillen.
September 26th, 2011 at 9:54 pmAstros one out away from getting to bottom 9. Holliday up, runner on first.
September 26th, 2011 at 9:56 pmIs it really a straight trade though? As in the exact same thing as getting Bourn for 4 players?
September 26th, 2011 at 9:57 pmThere’s gotta be a slow-pitch softball team that has a sixpack they can spare for Fredlot.
September 26th, 2011 at 9:57 pmOzzie Guillen is probably the worst manager in baseball. I am stunned that any team would give up anything for him.
September 26th, 2011 at 9:58 pmNot only can you trade a manager, the Tigers once traded Jimmie Dykes to Cleveland for their manager. I think it was Joe Gordon. They both sucked.
September 26th, 2011 at 9:58 pm@314
Seems to be.
Didn’t the Giants get Felipe Alou from the Expos via trade? Maybe I’m just making that up in my head.
September 26th, 2011 at 9:59 pmCan’t wait to see Ozzie’s antics 18 times a season.
September 26th, 2011 at 9:59 pm315 I played for Two State Champion Slow Pitch teams, no way Fredi could have coached at that level.
September 26th, 2011 at 10:00 pmBottom of the 9th in Houston.
September 26th, 2011 at 10:00 pmWe were compensated for Mazzoni
September 26th, 2011 at 10:00 pmAstros keep squeaking through. Pujols almost had a 2 run HR, but it stayed in the park, and it’s a tie game in the bottom of the ninth.
Go ‘Stros!
September 26th, 2011 at 10:00 pmMaybe we can get the Marlins fired manager in two years
September 26th, 2011 at 10:02 pmC’mon Ashtrays! Let’s go!
September 26th, 2011 at 10:02 pmHow ’bout hitting one into those cursed Crawford Boxes?
September 26th, 2011 at 10:03 pmIn the stupidest comment of the evening, Mitch Williams just claimed that a bunch of Cubs fans would change to White Sox fans if the latter hired Ryne Sandberg as manager.
September 26th, 2011 at 10:03 pmDarn it, ‘Stros. I hate one-pitch ABs.
September 26th, 2011 at 10:05 pmCan we hire Sandberg?
September 26th, 2011 at 10:05 pmCome on, Towelie
September 26th, 2011 at 10:06 pmMaybe then Chip Caray will switch to being a Braves fan.
September 26th, 2011 at 10:06 pmExtra innings
September 26th, 2011 at 10:08 pmRandy, I didn’t say the softball team had to be good…
Still tied, going to extras.
September 26th, 2011 at 10:08 pmHow the bleeding hell is Yadier Molina hitting .305?
EDIT: Maybe it’s because every time a strike is thrown to him, the umpire calls it a ball.
September 26th, 2011 at 10:09 pm293: Remember Eddie Haas!!!
September 26th, 2011 at 10:14 pmMilo Hamilton is an idiot. Why would anyone want to spend a holiday weekend at the Molina house? And why would he assume all the Molina brothers live together? I’m so very thankful for Don Sutton and Jim Powell.
September 26th, 2011 at 10:14 pmHeads up play by the pitcher. Nice.
September 26th, 2011 at 10:17 pmYadier Molina haters have to like this sequence of events.
September 26th, 2011 at 10:17 pmNice baserunning by Molina
September 26th, 2011 at 10:17 pmSchafer is batting third for the Astros?
September 26th, 2011 at 10:17 pmYeah, he was brought in as a pinch runner.
September 26th, 2011 at 10:18 pmHey did they take that stupid flagpole out of that stupid hill in stupid centerfield at stupid Minute Maid Park?
September 26th, 2011 at 10:19 pmBrilliant baserunning by the Cardinals. Simply brilliant.
Schafer came in as a pinch-runner, I believe.
September 26th, 2011 at 10:20 pmBravesque baserunning by the Cardinals there in the 10th. Finish them off, mighty ‘Stros! (I can’t believe I said that…)
September 26th, 2011 at 10:20 pmNice baserunning by the Cardinals. Idiots.
My favorite though was Yadier standing in the batter’s box like a dumbass watching his pop fly to left field bounce off the wall.
September 26th, 2011 at 10:20 pmAlight Houston, time to layeth the smackdown.
September 26th, 2011 at 10:20 pmAll we need is one solo homer by …
by…
by…
Carlos Lee! The Astros still have a respectable hitter left. He must win this.
September 26th, 2011 at 10:22 pm3 runs in 27 innings, 2 of those on solo shots. Nice work ladies.
September 26th, 2011 at 10:22 pmLooking at the Astros’ record makes me feel better about our recent woes. 104 losses would be tough to swallow.
That’s a start!
September 26th, 2011 at 10:22 pmYes, Big Start!
September 26th, 2011 at 10:22 pmYeah, Astros player with four syllable name!
September 26th, 2011 at 10:22 pmHouston with a leadoff double!
September 26th, 2011 at 10:22 pmThe Astros still have Schafer too. #Gwinning
September 26th, 2011 at 10:23 pmYay, Runners on corners no one out.
September 26th, 2011 at 10:23 pmFirst and third, nobody out.
September 26th, 2011 at 10:23 pmSome Russian with a leadoff double
September 26th, 2011 at 10:23 pmBogusevic. That name is inherently funny.
September 26th, 2011 at 10:24 pmRunners now first and third, nobody out after an error on the sac bunt attempt. Sanchez, Schafer and Lee due up.
September 26th, 2011 at 10:24 pmC’mon, Lastros… a little favor, OK?
September 26th, 2011 at 10:24 pmThe Braves find it impossible to score in this situation… but the Astros are a better team.
September 26th, 2011 at 10:24 pmWow, the Astros are about to keep the Braves from suffering the same fate of the Red Sox today.
September 26th, 2011 at 10:24 pmYes! We put down a good bunt and were rewarded with a misplay and runners on 1st and 3rd with no outs! Man, I really feel good about this ‘Stros team in the future. I think we’ll be pretty good by 2015. Hope they don’t move us to the AL.
September 26th, 2011 at 10:24 pmCardinals are about to lose to Carlos Lee, Wandy, Barmes, Schafer, and a bunch of guys I have never seen.
September 26th, 2011 at 10:24 pmRooting for the Astros feels like trying to hook my father up with his secretary.
September 26th, 2011 at 10:25 pmWe win! ‘Stros win!
September 26th, 2011 at 10:25 pmHells yeah, Mr. Bogusevic!
September 26th, 2011 at 10:25 pmSQUEEZE BUNT!
September 26th, 2011 at 10:25 pmAstros win on a bunt. Fredi is in ecstasy.
September 26th, 2011 at 10:25 pmFredi’s having an orgasm right now with that suicide squeeze…
CORRECTION: Safety, not suicide. Still, Fredi must feel really gratified to have shaved a game off the magic number with such a bold strategic maneuver!
September 26th, 2011 at 10:26 pmLong live the Astros.
September 26th, 2011 at 10:26 pmLets not count are chickens before they hatch, if that’s OK with everyone.
EDIT: Wait….ha ha hah hah ah!!!! Greatest late post ever!!!!
September 26th, 2011 at 10:26 pmI’m not proud, thanks ASTROS!!!
September 26th, 2011 at 10:26 pmYEE-aahh!
September 26th, 2011 at 10:26 pmYES!
September 26th, 2011 at 10:26 pmYES! THANK YOU, ANGEL SANCHEZ! I’M GOING TO THROW UP NOW!
Seriously, one ****ing win clinches a playoff game. Is that too much to ask?!?! (Don’t answer that…)
September 26th, 2011 at 10:26 pmCome on Astros, don’t ‘pull a Braves’ here.
Edit: they already won it!
September 26th, 2011 at 10:26 pmBallgame Houston
September 26th, 2011 at 10:26 pmWow. There are no words. The Braves head into tomorrow still up one game. The magic number is now two, ha ha.
September 26th, 2011 at 10:26 pmBoy, I know it’s been a rough season but it’s really nice to see our guys put it all on the line for the last series. I’m really proud of these guys.
September 26th, 2011 at 10:26 pmSo we’re a game up with two games to play, right?
September 26th, 2011 at 10:27 pmSee, it’s like Fredi always says… bunting is the key to victory.
September 26th, 2011 at 10:27 pm368: LOL! Like minds think alike. :p And I chose my description very carefully as not to unduly offend…
September 26th, 2011 at 10:27 pmI was hoping Success would earn his playoff share.
September 26th, 2011 at 10:28 pmYep, we just have to win one frigging game to guarantee at least a 163rd game.
September 26th, 2011 at 10:28 pmThank you Astros! Do I forgive you now, Chris Burke? FUCK no.
September 26th, 2011 at 10:29 pm“Yep, we just have to win one frigging game to guarantee at least a 163rd game.”
Saying we gotta jump the Grand Canyon on a tricycle would be just as reassuring.
September 26th, 2011 at 10:29 pmAnd we take one more step backwards towards the playoffs.
September 26th, 2011 at 10:29 pmWhat do you have against people with Downs Syndrome?
September 26th, 2011 at 10:30 pmWOOOOOO!
To quote Cannibal Corpse, “Make Them Suffer”!
September 26th, 2011 at 10:30 pmAAR, I’m pretty sure the only ones suffering here are us.
This whole “pennant race” and Dan’s comment bring this scene to mind:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PnDNFe-y7iU
I also watched Terra Nova tonight. It also made a bad evening worse.
September 26th, 2011 at 10:33 pmMac should recap the Astros game instead of the Braves game.
September 26th, 2011 at 10:33 pmMuch like Chip, irony sometimes escapes me. But, watching ESPN play-by-play and seeing Jordan Schafer’s picture as on-deck batter and WEARING an Atlanta Braves cap, would it have been ironic if he had won the game?
@381 LOL. “Bunting is the key to victory.”
September 26th, 2011 at 10:34 pmFredi postgame quote: “You gotta tip your hat to the Cardinals. They played hard all the way to the end. But you also gotta tip your hat to the Astros, who just really know how to win. And while I’m at it, you gotta tip your hat to the squeeze play – both safety and suicide. Until you know how to do that as a manager, you really haven’t arrived in the big leagues. Cardinals play hard, Astros victory, Braves shave a game off the magic number…It’s days like this we can all feel like winners.”
September 26th, 2011 at 10:34 pmActually, the Red Sox are suffering even more — they’re now tied with the Rays. It is a great time to be a Sox hater in Boston right now.
September 26th, 2011 at 10:34 pmAs lousy as we’ve played, a Braves win and a Cards loss tomorrow gives us the pennant!
September 26th, 2011 at 10:35 pmI hate to be a downer, but everyone knows Derek Lowe is pitching tomorrow, right?
September 26th, 2011 at 10:37 pmI still can’t believe the Cardinals choked against the worst team in all of baseball. There’s not a lot of shame in losing to a Phillies team starting their best players. Losing to the killer Bs of Bogusevic, Bourgeois, and Barmes, however, takes some South Park skill.
September 26th, 2011 at 10:37 pm#395
Well, the Wild Card, but something like that did cross my mind. Astounding, I know.
Then I thought: Could the Astros win 2 more?
September 26th, 2011 at 10:38 pmThere has got to be a more appropriate name for the thing we have the opportunity to clinch tomorrow. Like “shame banner,” or “coffin drape.” Maybe “adult cloth diaper.” We can clinch the surrender flag tomorrow guys!
September 26th, 2011 at 10:39 pm@390
I recorded Terra Nova, would you say it’s a skip?
September 26th, 2011 at 10:40 pmWhat makes this sweeter is that we have Lowe pitching tomorrow, and he Knows How To Win.
September 26th, 2011 at 10:41 pm@392
Yes, that would actually be ironic. Having the score of both games be 4-2 is coincidental, as is every other thing Chip thinks is ironic.
September 26th, 2011 at 10:42 pmHey, if we manage to pull this thing off, it’ll be because of the two sweetest words in the English language: default!
September 26th, 2011 at 10:44 pmIf the Braves and Cards both lose out, thus clinching the Wild Card for the Braves, do you think they would still do a rowdy champagne celebration?
September 26th, 2011 at 10:44 pm400- Yeah, I would. Avoiding spoilers, the dinosaurs were pretty pedestrian and we didn’t see that much of them, and I’m honestly not sure they understand what their premise is.
403- AAR, actually I’d like to see Fredi honored the way Homer was in that episode- by launching him into space. Shame we don’t have a space shuttle anymore, so it’d have to be on one of our rockets that burn up during re-entry.
404- Of course.
September 26th, 2011 at 10:46 pm404: At this point in the season, I’m feeling just perversely curious enough to find out what would happen.
September 26th, 2011 at 10:47 pm@404
Sadly, yes, I think they would. But frankly it would be fascinating to find out.
September 26th, 2011 at 10:49 pm404: I think the entire team would have to sit shamefully in the corner like Furcal back in the day.
September 26th, 2011 at 10:49 pmFrankly, if we win this thing, you’d probably want as wild a celebration as possible. Might make it easier to forget this putrid month and give ourselves a chance in the playoffs. I understand the implications of it, and it doesn’t necessarily look great from a PR standpoint, but if we win it, we can’t be pondering what a travesty it is that we did so. We need to find a way to turn the page.
September 26th, 2011 at 10:55 pmI wish I believed that there was anyone on this team with a healthy, decent sense of shame.
September 26th, 2011 at 10:56 pmIn 1982, the Braves had a one-game lead on the Dodgers (in the old NL West) going into the final day. Atlanta lost in San Diego; but not long afterward, the Giants’ Joe Morgan hit a HR off Terry Forster to beat the Dodgers.
The Braves celebrated with champagne, just as if they won.
Of course, I’d sure love to see the Braves somehow win these last 2.
September 26th, 2011 at 10:58 pmAAR, there is none. Not the front office, not the manager, not the coaches, not the players. Hell, probably not even a batboy or usher.
September 26th, 2011 at 11:00 pmI want Hudson to have a day off. Beat Phils and let the Colt 45s win.
September 26th, 2011 at 11:01 pm“St. Louis went 3-for-13 with runners in scoring position on the night, left nine men on base and hit into two double plays. They also lost two runners on the bases — three if you count Molina in the 10th.”
Sounds like they’re doing a Braves impression.
September 26th, 2011 at 11:01 pm“If the Braves and Cards both lose out, thus clinching the Wild Card for the Braves, do you think they would still do a rowdy champagne celebration?”
Why not? This team has won more games than the 2001 NL East champions.
September 26th, 2011 at 11:02 pm@393,
I gotta tip my cap to John R.
I guess this is the kind of pennant races MLB envisioned when they came up with the Wild Card. Two mediocre teams fighting it out.
September 26th, 2011 at 11:04 pm416- Yeah. Real good advertisement for the idea of a second wild card, isn’t it? Then you’ll have a race of the cripples like this every year!
September 26th, 2011 at 11:05 pmAccording to an article, a second wildcard team is “all but done” and will start in either 2012 or no later than 2013. The two teams with the best records in each league that did not win their divisions will play a one-game playoff to decide who’ll be the real wildcard team and advance to the NLDS/ALDS.
If that were the rules this year, these last two games wouldn’t even matter: it’d already be a done deal of a one-game Braves-Cardinals playoff.
At least it’s only one game and not a best of five or something. Still don’t like giving more undeserving teams access.
September 26th, 2011 at 11:09 pmArizona and Milwaukee both just lost. Milwaukee’s a game ahead of Arizona, but the D-Backs have the tiebreaker. If Milwaukee stays ahead of Arizona, that’s where we go, presuming we don’t complete our pratfall.
September 26th, 2011 at 11:27 pmThe Angels’ season just ended.
September 27th, 2011 at 12:11 am#413, I think the Cardinals are playing on Wednesday afternoon, so conceivably we could have Hudson just throw a side session if we don’t need a win.
September 27th, 2011 at 4:12 amTerry Francona acknowledge that what the Red Sox have been going through has been “trying.” Fredi Gonzalez would have said, “what do you mean, trying? Everything is just fine.”
I have more respect for Francona than this Cox/Gonzalez denial philosophy of, as Jim Bouton said, “not saying shit if you had a mouthful.” I think I could tolerate the collapse better if Fredi at least acknowledged that things are not going well.
But I disagree with the meme going through this thread that the Braves don’t care. Why would they not care after playing six months. Obviously, they look flat, but it’s more likely that they are trying too hard and are pressing. I understand people say things here out of frustration, but I really don’t believe they don’t care. Of course, it would look better if they showed some emotion–threw their bat down, and so forth-but, for better or worse, that’s not the Braves way. But I don’t believe that they don’t care.
September 27th, 2011 at 6:42 amReally conflicted over whether to go to the game tonight or not. On the one hand, the atmosphere should be pretty cool barring a blowout loss (by anything more than 2 runs with this offense), but on the other hand, Derek Lowe. He actually pitched well against the pirates last time I saw him.
September 27th, 2011 at 6:54 am“Faith consists in believing when it is beyond the power of reason to believe.”
Voltaire
So cowboy up, Derek Lowe. The Cards are heartbroken and you can lead us to a victory!
And for Fredi:
September 27th, 2011 at 6:55 am“Keep the faith, don’t lose your perseverance and always trust your gut extinct.”
Paula Abdul
Wow, that new system manages simultaneously to devalue the regular season more even as it further overvalues the winning of a bad division.
I look forward to a 96-win Red Sox team losing to an 86-win Jays team all the while an 84-win Twins team advances to the ALDS.
September 27th, 2011 at 6:59 amI think we can agree on one thing: after two seasons of the same thing, those ‘probability of making the playoffs’ websites can be thrown out the window. For me at least, nothing adds more annoyance to an obvious late-season collapse than the gleeful posting of “96% you guys! It’s in the bag!”
September 27th, 2011 at 7:28 amRecapped.
September 27th, 2011 at 7:42 am